The A’s Test

The next time someone tells you the Yankees, Mets or Red Sox are great because of superior managing, enlightened ownership, or some ethereal magic bestowed upon the franchise due to its innate goodness, ask the person to take the A’s test.

A’s management people said early this season “We probably won’t be able to sign Barry Zito (when he becomes a free agent after the ’06 season).”

Because of, you know, the money.

Take the name of any Yankee over the last decade, insert the name in place of Zito, and find a Yankee exec who would make the above statement. Like, “We probably won’t be able to sign Derek Jeter.”

The A’s (and many other clubs) constantly lose important star players because of the money. The Yankees, Sox and one or two other teams gain important star players because of the money. Name another major sport where that happens.

The A’s might be able to retain Frank Thomas, but it’s also quite possible that the Big Hurt has priced himself out of the A’s budget. Same, maybe, for Jay Payton, the team’s .300 hitter.

The playing field is as level as the poop deck of the Titanic. So the next time your pal tells you the Yankees win because of the greatness of Joe Torre, or the bulldog competitiveness of George Steinbrenner, tell the guy to shut up and buy you another round.